Laura’s House Annual Gala returns to The Island Hotel Newport Beach for “Island Breezes”
Posted on August 18, 2011
The event, commemorating 17 years of serving victims of domestic violence in Southern California, will take place on Saturday, October 1
Ladera Ranch, Calif., Aug. 19, 2011 – More than 300 supporters of Laura’s House are expected to gather at The Island Hotel Newport Beach on Saturday, October 1, 2010 to celebrate “Island Breezes.” The annual gala will mark Laura’s House’ 17th year of providing domestic violence related services to the more then 3 million residents of Orange County and beyond.
The 2011 Annual Gala will feature a silent auction and cocktail reception, followed by dinner, an opportunity drawing, a live auction and musical entertainment. During the evening’s festivities, Laura’s House is pleased to honor two very special men who have contributed countless volunteer hours, and have been instrumental in helping the organization to realize it’s long-term dream for the expansion and rebuild of its Emergency Shelter. Rick Lutzky, of Lutzky Associates Development, LP joined the Laura’s House team in 2009, and since has donated more than 1,450 hours as the manager of this project. Don Vodra, COO of Rancho Mission Viejo, has served on the Laura’s House Board of Directors for six years, including two years as Chairman, and has been instrumental in orchestrating the resources and experts necessary to achieve Laura’s House’ long held goal of expanding the essential programs and services it offers to the community.
Laura’s House will also be honoring Verizon Wireless with its Corporate Crystal Heart Award for their spirit of philanthropy and dedication to assisting victims of domestic violence through their corporate initiatives and volunteer program.
Earlier this year, Laura’s House received a $50,000 grant from Verizon to support technology upgrades for its Emergency Shelter and Counseling and Resource Center. Employees at Verizon Wireless also participated in several events throughout the year including a “Fill the Fridge, Pack the Pantry” drive in the Spring, which collected non-perishable food items for Laura’s House; collected supplies so that children residing at the shelter could create special Mother’s Day gifts for their moms; and, participated in a backpack and school supplies drive. At its headquarters in Irvine, Calif., Verizon Wireless also created a special wall honoring the company’s contributions to Laura’s House that features tiles hand-painted by children participating in Laura’s House programs.
The mission of Laura’s House is to change the social beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence, while creating a safe place in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse. “During the past year, we’ve continued to see a growing need for the programs and services we offer to families who are effected by domestic violence,” said Margaret Bayston, CEO and Executive Director, Laura’s House. “The current economic environment certainly plays a role in this, with families continuing to feel the strain resulting from layoffs and salary cuts. Because the financial crisis has also impacted the funding we receive from the State of California, as well as many of our foundation and corporate supporters, events like our annual gala are critical in helping us raise the private funding we need to continue providing our services to the community.”
Linda Kearns, a Laura’s House board member, and the gala chair for “Island Breezes,” said “We are thrilled to be partnering again this year with The Island Hotel Newport Beach in hosting our annual gala, and excited about sharing in this celebrating of the successes that Laura’s House has achieved during the past year. Although our economy has hit all of us, sometimes it takes people one by one to create numbers significant enough to make an impact. On October 1st, we will gather in numbers at the gala, and hold in our hands the collective power that we have to change lives in our community.” Members of the gala committee also include Donna Cipolla, Sharon Dannelley, Kate Roberts and Casey Wolin.
“Island Breezes” will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at The Island Hotel Newport Beach, located at 690 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach. The evening’s silent and live auctions will feature more than 200 items including exciting travel experiences, culinary adventures, and a “Wall of Wine” offering a seemingly endless selection of top-rated wines from around the world.
Individual tickets for “Island Breezes” are $250 per person. Table sponsorships begin at $3,000. For more information, visit www.laurashouse.org/events.
All proceeds from “Island Breezes” will be used to fund the programs and services that Laura’s House provides, including the Emergency Shelter, the Counseling & Resource Center and Legal Advocacy program, which provides legal assistance to victims of domestic violence and their families.
About Laura’s House
Annually, Laura’s House provides residential shelter services to more than 200 women and children, counseling to more than 300 clients, legal services to more than 300 clients and assists with more than 1,700 crisis hot-line calls. The mission of Laura’s House is changing social beliefs, attitudes and the behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse.
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